Ch.38Unjust Duel (3)

“… What am I even doing?”

One slip of the tongue and I’m making a habit of it.

After frantically fleeing from the training grounds, I found myself near the glass greenhouse of the imperial palace.

“Ugh.”

The head of an immortal, which shouldn’t feel pain, was throbbing.

To flee with insulting words toward Bartlant in front of so many watching eyes!

It was an act of insincerity that even tarnished the emperor’s face who had arranged the duel.

“Hey, old man. Why did you hold back at the end? I thought I was about to lose a limb for a second there.”

I recalled the final exchange of our duel.

Bartlant, who had closed in right before my face, still had his terrifying battle aura surrounding his entire body.

Moreover, despite being pressured by Netionpis’s skill, he didn’t even have a scratch.

If he hadn’t forfeited himself, there would have been no solution.

“Old man? Hello?”

……

This old geezer is as cunning as a snake. Now that he’s had his fun, he’s not even responding? His shamelessness truly lives up to his infamous reputation.

“Haa, fine, whatever. More importantly, it’s one problem after another. I wonder why Irefi is in such a bad mood again…”

Netionpis, Bartlant, and now Irefi! My surroundings are excessively exhausting.

Ah, I miss Miren so much. I want to pinch her cheeks and experience some intense healing.

After escaping reality for quite some time, I began to contemplate the situation.

“Irefi has been acting strange lately. She’s been sulking alone, not holding hands while sleeping, and today she got angry for no reason… She’s definitely changed somehow.”

The Irefi I knew was absolutely not that kind of person.

Just during the time we rescued Charle, wasn’t she the one who first resolved her grievances?

Conversely, it feels like just yesterday that I was the one bottling up my feelings before eventually opening up.

She was consistently honest with her feelings. It’s hard to guess what change of heart has caused her to act this way.

“I even activated my enhanced hearing, but there’s no significant clue…”

Apart from Bartlant’s excessive positive energy, there’s no substantial conversation.

[Hahah, the prospective master Alteon was too modest! The speed at which you dodged me just now was truly remarkable! And I apologize for causing trouble to His Majesty and Captain Justitia. I will formally apologize later!]

… What’s going to happen to me now? At this point, my mind and body are too exhausted to engage in any misunderstandings with such an excessively energetic man.

Just as I was about to close my enhanced hearing for peace of mind, an unexpected laugh brushed against my earlobe.

“Huh? This voice… Miren? And two people I don’t know.”

From the sound of it, her companions don’t seem to be adults.

The source of the laughter was inside the glass greenhouse. I opened the door and quietly walked toward her.

“And then my brother’s black horse went whoosh! and jumped over an obstacle as tall as a person!”

“Wow, really? I want to learn horseback riding too! Arnel, can you ride a horse?”

“I-I can… a little.”

“I’m jealous… I’m too weak for intense activities.”

Miren lamented sorrowfully.

Perhaps because I unintentionally overheard her honest concern,

I reflexively hid myself.

Like the moon hiding its light behind clouds, Miren’s shadowed expression naturally evoked sympathy.

“How about… riding together slowly? It might be too much like my brother, but if I carry you in front… I-I can do that too!”

“Really? I can ride a horse too?!”

“Y-yes!”

What?

Offering to let her ride a horse? Our Miren?

Sure, he can let her ride. Of course. Absolutely! Of course!

‘That is, if the one offering wasn’t a boy with a red face and subtle glances!!!’

I barely managed to cover my flashing eyes with gentleness as I stood up. Then I deliberately amplified my presence, making my footsteps clearly audible.

Step, step.

“Hm? There was no one here until just now… Oh, Nepy!”

Miren was the first to recognize me.

As soon as I turned my gaze to the other two children, I almost visibly recoiled.

‘Gasp! They look just like Chester kids. I was startled because they reminded me of Bartlant!’

Anyone who has felt that man’s tingling battle aura on their skin would understand. How powerful the pressure is, making one lose their fighting spirit…

It was something akin to PTSD.

I quickly composed myself and spoke with a friendly tone.

“I didn’t expect to find our Miren playing here. Did I interrupt?”

“Not at all! Are you done with your work? Weren’t you with Elfi?”

“Well, there were some circumstances. I just stepped out for a bit.”

I decided to keep secret the fact that Irefi was inexplicably angry. I didn’t want to worry Miren, who was the person in question’s sister…

“By the way, who are these children?”

“Ah! Actually, Nepy…”

Miren’s words were interrupted. A lively girl politely greeted me first.

“Pleased to meet you. My name is Enella Chester. I’m delighted to make your acquaintance. May I ask your name?”

It was an excessively formal etiquette for a child Miren’s age. The discrepancy momentarily captured my attention.

“E-Enella?”

“Enella, are you crazy?”

These were the reactions from Miren and the boy respectively. Seeing how the previously shy boy was reacting, they were definitely siblings.

“I’m Nepy Alteon. Feel free to call me comfortably.”

“As you wish, Brother Nepy.”

“Ugh!”

The boy covered his mouth with his sleeve at her manner of speech.

‘I guess that’s how real siblings are.’

They seemed to have become quite close with Miren. So I responded with a gentle facade.

… But Enella, was it? This child is somewhat burdensome.

Next came the boy’s self-introduction.

“I’m Arnel Chester. Pleased to meet you, Marquess Alteon.”

“You seem to know me?”

“Well… I heard you’re close with Marquess Justitia.”

“Surely, that can’t be true.”

I clarified with a tone dripping with disgust. That’s putting it mildly—he must have heard even worse rumors.

“… Nepy.”

“Yes? What is it, Miren?”

“N-nothing. It’s nothing.”

I wanted to pinch Miren’s puffed cheeks… no, that’s not it.

For some reason, it seems like both Justitia sisters are in a bad mood today.

“The rumors of high society are indeed unreliable. Brother Nepy? If you don’t have a lover, perhaps I could gift you some embroidery…”

“You can’t even embroider! You only know how to stab people with needles.”

“… I wanted to make tassels for your sword handle…”

“Why not say you’ll brew wine instead?”

“Arnel, do you really want to die? …… I mean, do you wish to perish?”

‘Just using polite endings doesn’t make your words pretty…’

I gave Enella a gentle smile and looked at Miren. The timing with which Enella clutched near her heart was surely just a coincidence.

“By the way, if you wanted to ride a horse, you should have told me. I would have found you the best horse in the world.”

“Liar. How could you let me ride a horse when you won’t even let me get out of a carriage without carrying me because you’re afraid I’ll get hurt?”

“Kyaa! Carrying you down? How considerate!”

“Please stop, Enella, it’s embarrassing…”

I deliberately ignored Enella’s burdensome gaze and firmly stated:

“If you want to ride a horse, you need to be stronger than Irefi or have a longer lifespan than me…”

“Nepy! Where in the world would such a creature exist?!”

“… Why wouldn’t there be, Miren?”

Curiosity settled in the Chester siblings’ wide-open eyes.

Well, they might not know about someone stronger than Irefi, but the lifespan condition would be beyond their comprehension.

Miren pressed her lips tightly at their questions and weakly lowered her head.

“No, no. Such things exist… Anyway, since Arnel offered to let me ride first, I’ll ride with Arnel.”

“Miren…”

Arnel’s face lit up at her declaration. He still seems clumsy at hiding his joy.

“Then I shall ride Brother Nepy’s horse!”

“Uh, um? L-let’s talk about that later? Miren… do as you please.”

“Not ‘no’? Nepy? What’s gotten into you?”

I narrowed my eyes like a snake and pointed to the entrance of the greenhouse.

“Because Irefi is here.”

Bang!

At that moment, the greenhouse door was forcefully opened. The familiar faces that entered were familiar.

Irefi and Bartlant. Just looking at them made me feel like diamond guardians were about to break into a backup dance—they were exceptional warriors.

At some point while talking with the children, I sensed Irefi’s aura spreading. Their approach was inevitable.

“Ah, Irefi!”

I brightened up and was about to run to tattle on Miren when I instinctively hit the brakes.

‘Right. Irefi was angry! I forgot about that while I was distracted!’

My brightened expression twisted into an awkward grimace. I stopped walking, but she continued to approach.

When she came close enough, our eyes met. While I was flustered, Irefi spoke.

With a natural smile.

“Nepy, if you called me, you should state your business, right?”

“Uh, ah? Oh, y-yes, that’s right.”

It was Irefi as usual. A smile lingered on her lips without a trace of anger.

I found Irefi’s smile extremely strange. That was probably why I gave up on tattling about Miren.

“Miren… no, never mind. I was talking with the kids and suddenly thought of you.”

“You thought of me? Hehe, that makes me happy. I was just thinking about you too.”

“About me? Why?”

“Do I need a reason? You’re completely part of my daily life now, Nepy. There’s no grand excuse needed for thinking about something so natural.”

“I-I see.”

I turned my eyes away in embarrassment at Irefi’s innocent attitude.

Thinking about me, and saying it’s natural. Somehow, she seems to choose peculiar expressions.

At that moment, the man who had been standing like a massive sack of barley cleared his throat and interjected.

“Ahem! You two have such a good relationship. Almost to the point of making others uncomfortable…”

“Well, we’ve known each other for quite a while.”

“That’s right. It’s hard for me to imagine a day in my life without Nepy now.”

“AHEM!”

Bartlant cleared his throat once more. This time it was closer to an unconscious choking.

Irefi’s ordinary words had a magical power that made people feel awkward.

In fact, I could clearly feel my cheeks burning.

“By the way… these kids, they’ve been behaving and staying quiet, right?”

Bartlant approached the children and patted the siblings’ heads.

Under his pot-lid-sized palm, Enella’s eyes sparkled.

“Brother Bartlant. I’ve found a goal.”

“Haha, if your goal is to surpass me, you should give up. I now have an even bigger goal…”

“Ah, I’m planning to put that aside for later.”

“Hm?”

I saw it.

How Bartlant’s expression turned disappointed at Enella’s casual denial.

“The Chester family motto! If pushing doesn’t work, press harder with greater force! Right, Brother Bartlant?”

“You remember it well.”

“So I’ve decided. I’ll grow stronger, even stronger. So… is it okay to expect me? Brother Nepy.”

“Oho! You’ve seen through Marquess Alteon’s strength? You’re better than me, Enella! Your brother is proud.”

“Hehe.”

The simply cheerful Chester siblings look good together. The conversation seems a bit off-track, but that shouldn’t matter.

Bartlant gathered Enella and Arnel and bid us farewell.

“Then we’ll be taking our leave. I hope the Marquess will seriously consider my proposal.”

“Ahaha…”

I glossed over it with a forced laugh.

By the time Bartlant’s massive back completely disappeared, Irefi and Miren approached me side by side.

“Let’s head back now.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Though we had only exchanged a few words after the duel ended, the sun was already peering over the horizon. I couldn’t tell if the day was short or the sky was narrow.

As I lost focus on the well-cooked feather clouds.

She suddenly turned to look at me as we exited the greenhouse.

“Nepy.”

“What?”

“I just wanted to call your name, for no reason.”

“How bland.”

“Hehe.”

In the crimson world dyed by the sunset, she smiled gently.

“…”

Why?

Irefi, who seemed no different from usual, appeared unnatural to me.

The way she pulled her cheeks, adorned like cherry blossoms, toward her cheekbones.

Her eyes, clear as a lake too pure for life to exist.

It was hard to shake off the unsettling feeling that it was like a mask forcibly created.

It was a day filled with strange thoughts in many ways.